Motor-vehicle.



No. 698,729. Patented Apr. 29, I902.

P. J. MDMAHON.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

Application filed Sept. 21. ,1901.

(N0 Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

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Patented Apr. 29, 1902.

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MOTOR VEHICLE.

(Application filed Sept. 21, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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P. J. MGMAHUN.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

(Application filed Sept. 21, 1901.)

'4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

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No. 698,729. Patented Apr. 29, I902. P. J.- MGMAHON.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

(Application filed Segt. 21, 1901.)

(No Model.) 4 sheets sheet 4.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

PATRICK J. oMnHoN, or KEYWEST, FLORIDA.

MOTOR-VEHICLE."

SPECIFICATION fondling part of Letters Patent No. 698,729, dated April 29, 1902. Application filed September 21, 1901. Serial No. 76,096. (No model.)

Florida, have invented new and useful Improvements in Motor-Driven Wheeled Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in motor-driven wheeled vehicles; and the objects are, first, to provide improved means for transmitting the power of the motor to the rear driving-wheels of the vehicle inthe most economical manner and at the same time to apply to the driving-wheels the power of the motor,whereby it will accomplish the work effectively and obviate injurious strains, resistance,friction,and wear of the working parts of the mechanism; second, to construct a vehicle wherein my improved system of powertransmission can be employed to advantage and whichwill afford less resistance to propulsion, be safer in operation, and less liable to accident thanthose now in use, and will afford more ease and comfort to the occupants.

My invention consists in the novel construction of parts and their arrangement and aggroupment in operative combinations, as will be hereinafter fully specified and dis tinctly pointed out and definitely claimed.

The mechanism by which I accomplish the objects of my invention is fully and clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, to be taken as a part of this specification, and reference thereto being had Figure l is a View in side elevation, partly in section, of the left-hand driving and steering wheels, showing the sprocket-wheel on the driving-wheel, the suspended platform, the intermediate-shaft with sprocket-wheel thereon, the resilient bearings,andthe motor connections. Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation, partly in section, showing the supporting yoke-frame, the motors located under the seats, the arrangement of the sprockets, and

the outlineof the body within the yoke or frame supported by springs. Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in horizontal section, showing the location of the motors, the driving chains and sprockets, the steering mechanism, and the platform in outline. Fig. 4 is a front end view, the wheels being in vertical section, showing the steering mechanism, the carshown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

riage-body being indicated in outline and showing the supporting-springs and side buffers. Fig. 5 is a detail view, in side elevation, on a larger scale than the other figures, showing the motors, the intermediate shaft, sprockets, and connecting chains and the relative positions of the driving and suspension mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detail end view, partly in section, of the driving mechanism.

'A designates the rearand driving wheels of the vehicle, made of larger diameter than those ordinarily used in vehicles of the class to which the invention belongs.

They may be of any of the approvedconstructions and have broad tread-faces and spokes emanating from an annular flange made part of or secured to thehubs 1, as indicated in the drawings B designates a rectangular frame of such size as to admit the body of the vehicle, as

frame may be made of tubular sections or pieces of pipe-iron united at their ends by coupling-pieces 2. At a determined point in the side bars of the frame B are suitably secured sleeves 3, from which project axle arms or spindles l, on which the hubs 5 of the rear driving-wheels of the vehicle are mounted. The driving gearing ormechanism consists of duplicate elements mounted at opposite sides of the vehicle and connects to each of the rear wheels thereof. It will also be premised that while I have illustrated two motors acting independently to actuate the driving mechanism itis plain thatasingle motor connected to the opposite driving-gears may be utilized for propelling the vehicle. The driving mechanism being duplicates, the description of one applies equally to the other, and similar letters or numerals refer to both, and referring thereto, 6 designates a sprocket-wheel mounted rigidly on the hub of a rear wheel and secured to the annular flange 7 on the hub. I

O designates a platform, base, or floor supported at its rear portion on the lower crossbar of the rectangular supporting-frame'and at its front portion is carried by the bar of the bail of the front axle. Between the platform C and the lower bar of the frame are arranged the proper number of elastic cushions 8, and the parts are secured together by This bolts 9, on the upper ends of which are arranged expansive springs 10, held in place-by vertical flanges 13.

nuts or washers 11 or any suitable fastenings.

On opposite sides of the platform are mounted vertical housing standards or frames 12 of such height, strength, and capacity as may adapt them for the purposes intended, and on the inner faces of the housings are formed The frames of the housing being subjected to considerable strain braces 14 15 are utilized to provide the req uisite stability. In the housing is slidingly disposed a bearing-box 16, chambered or recessed in its upper and lower sides substantially as shown, and above and below the bearing-box within the housing are placed elastic cushions 17 18, so that the box and the elements carried by it have a yielding and elastic function. journaled a shaft 19, held against endwise movement therein and projecting in opposite directions therefrom. On the outer end of this shaft 19 is mounted a sprocket-wheel 20, which has operative connection with the sprocket-wheel 6 bya sprocket-chain 21. It will be perceived that the housing-standards are mounted and the shaft carried thereon in advance of the axle of the rear wheels, so as to bring the front line of the chain in vertical alinement with the terminal points of the horizontal radii of the two sprocket-wheels 6 and 20, as shown in Figs.] and 5 of the drawings. On the inner end of the shaft 19 is fixed a suitable sprocket-wheel 23, and on a shaft 22, actuated by the motor I), is a sprocket wheel 24, connected to the sprocket 23 by a chain 25, as indicated in the drawings.

The-motors or engines may be of any suitable kind adapted to apply and utilize a force created within them for the purpose of operating mechanism connected to the motor.

E designates the axle of the front wheels and which carries the front portion of the platform, which is laid on cushions 26. The upper end of the arms of the front axle are directed horizontally and are formed wit semicircular supports 27.

28 designates the axle arms or spindles on which the front wheels are mounted. On the inner ends of the spindles 28 are formed semicircular supports 29, the curvature of which is concentric with that of the support 27 The supports 27 and 29 are pivotally connected at their respective ends by suitable bearing-bolts 30, so that the spindles of the front wheels may turn on a horizontal plane-on the pivotbolts to guide the vehicle during its progression. From the middleof each of the supports 29 projects an arm 31, said arms being connected at their outer ends bya bar 32, as shown in Figs. 3 and at of the drawings.

33 designates the steering-post, revolubly mounted and secured in vertical position by any suitable means. An arm 34 projects from the post and has its outer end pivotally connected to a pull bar or link 35, the other end of which is pivotally connected to the bar 32.

In the bearing-box 16 is A hand-wheel 36. is fixed-to the top end of the steering-postfor actuating the steering mechanism.

F designates the body of the vehicle. This body may be substantially rectangular in cross-section and is arranged within the frame B and between the arms of the front axle. The body is resiliently supported at the top by springs 37 38 and at the bottom is supported on springs 39 40, and to prevent the usual effects of jars, jolts, and lateral movement buffers 41 are secured to the vertical bars of theframe. with their inner faces adjacent to the'sides of the body. At the front end portion of the body similar bu ifers 42 are fixed to the arms of the front axle and serve to relieve the jars, 850., at that part ofthe body. i

Seats S are provided, which may be of any approved construction.

It will be perceived from th'e'purview of the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, thatthe power of the motor is expended in lifting a portion or all of the load carried by the chain on the sprockets on the driving-wh eels and sustaining it at a determined point in front-of the center of the rear or driving wheel, as shown and indicated in Figs. land 5, so that the wheels will be driven in revolution without any strain, undue friction, or wear except that consequent to the action of the chain or gearin g. It will also be perceived thatif the power exerted by the motor be in excess of that required to lift the weight of the load suspended on the chains the extraforce will be taken up and'held by the springs supporting the body of the vehicle,'where it is exerted in lifting the weight of theyoke or frame'and, if necessary, forcing the shafts against then-pper sides of the hearings in the driving-wheels, and thus enabling all the power of the motor to be applied in propelling the vehicle.

The frame B, with the axle arms or spindles, is intended to take the place of a rear axle in its connection to the wheels, but is not intended to carry any portion of the load on the carriage-body, since that is carried by the sprockets and the suspension sprocketchains.

I am aware in some constructions of vehicles of this kind an intermediate shaft'is mounted in front of the rear axle carrying the drivingwheels, and a chain from sprockets on the ends of this shaft to sprockets on the drivingwheels is utilized to propel the wheels; butin these constructions the load is carried by the axle of the wheels, and the forcewith which the driving-wheel is pulled to revolve the wheels is reacted between the bearing on the intermediate shaft and the axle, thus causing resistance, strains, friction, and wear of the working mechanism. In the construction, arrangement, andaggroupment of the mechanism and the system of transmitting and applying the power the force' of the power is downward and, as it were, pulling the wheel against the ground and to the same extent lifting the load onto the front portions of the wheel without causing any injuriousstrains or undue friction or wear.

My construction is such as to afford in creased and ample height to suspend the load in the manner herein described and as indicated in the drawings, and thereby introducing and applying the power so as to develop disposed within the frame, standards on the opposite sides of the platform, shafts journaled in the standards, sprocket-wheels on both ends of the shafts, the rear wheels, sprockets on the rear wheels, chains connectingthe'sprockets, and means for driving the sprockets.

3. In a road-vehicle, the combination with the rear Wheels, and a platform, of sprocketwheels secured to the rear wheels having standards secured to the platform in advance of the axle of the wheels, resiliently-supported bearing-boxes in the said housing, shafts mounted in the boxes, sprockets on the outer ends of the shafts, and a chain connectin g the sprockets to the sprockets on the rear wheels, whereby the platform is resiliently supported.

4. In a road-vehicle, the combination with the rear wheels and a platform, of sprocketwheels secured to the rear wheels, resiliently supported bearings on the platform, shafts in the bearings, sprocket-wheels on the-outer ends of the shafts, chains connecting the said sprockets, whereby the platform is resiliently supported, and means to rotate the saidshafts and propel'the vehicle.

5. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with the rear wheels, of a rectangular vertical frame carried by the wheels, and a resiliently supported vehicle-body carried by the frame.

6. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with the rear wheels, of a rectangular vertical frame carried by the wheels, a resiliently-supported platform carried by the lower bar of the frame, a vehiclebody in the frame, sus pension-springs between the top of the body and the top of the frame, and cushion-springs under the body and-on the lower bar of the frame. I v

7. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of a vertical rectangular frame having wheel-spin dles projecting from its side bars, rear whee s mounted thereon, a vehicle-body resiliently supported within andby the frame, sprocket= wheels'secured to the rear wheels, a platform resiliently connected to the lower bar of the frame, standards on the platform, resilientlysupported bearing-boxes, sprocketwheels on the outer ends of the shafts, chains connect=' WVitnesses:

JULIUS OTTO, F. W. JOHNSON. 

